Jets trade up to grab gigantic defenceman

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This article was published 24/06/2016 (3421 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

BUFFALO, N.Y. — Among the important things you need to know about Logan Stanley, the defenceman the Winnipeg Jets traded up to get on Friday night, is he can look Tyler Myers straight in the eye.

The 6-6 blue-liner from the Windsor Spitfires was the 18th pick of Friday’s first round of the NHL Draft at First Niagara Center when the Jets swapped their No. 22 pick and their No. 36 pick to the Philadelphia Flyers for the 18th and 79th picks of this draft.

The Waterloo, Ont., native wore a constant grin when chatting with reporters after the Jets made his day.

“I’m really excited,” said Stanley, who had five goals and 17 points, as well as 103 penalty minutes, for the Spitfires in 2015-16. “I’ve been in Winnipeg just before the U-18s and it’s a great city and I was at their practice facility and it’s awesome there.”

Jets GM Kevin Cheveldayoff said it became apparent midway through Friday’s selections he needed to do something if he wanted Stanley.

“Logan was a guy we targeted to maybe get at 22 but the way the things were falling… we felt we had to step up to get him,” the GM said. “He’s big, he can skate, he can shoot and his development path over the last year has been a steep one and with the character and compete standpoint, he’s someone who’s just scratching the surface of where he can go.”

It was also important from an organizational standpoint that Stanley is a left shot, since the Jets at the moment are overloaded on the right side.

The pick was right in the range Stanley was projected to go, but patience is a tough thing for prospects on draft day.

“It was definitely long, seeing the picks come in, but I had a lot of friends picked so it was awesome to see those guys go,” Stanley said.

He comes to the Jets with some familiarity.

“I’ve got a good buddy in Brendan Lemieux who’s a part of the organization and he’s told me lots about it,” Stanley said. “I’m happy to be a part of it with him.”

Trying to continue his improvement curve, Stanley said he has clear priorities this summer.

“My foot-speed for sure, my pivoting and first three steps,” he said. “And to just keep getting stronger.”

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Late in Friday’s first round, Oakbank’s Brett Howden heard his name called in the No. 27 slot by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“I didn’t know,” Howden smiled. “All I knew was that I felt really comfortable with them in the meetings. I met with 27 teams, out of every one they were definitely the best one I had for sure. It was a good feeling with them. I just didn’t know it would come true. It’s kind of amazing.”

After putting up a junior-career best 24 goals and 64 points with Moose Jaw of the WHL last season, Howden is optimistic he’ll be an asset for the Lightning.

“I think my size will be a big factor and my ability to play with the puck will help as well,” he said. “I have good vision. I think I bring a 200-foot game to the table.”

tim.campbell@freepress.mb.ca